Chapter [Sarga] 61

Introduction

Kausalya, while weeping, rebukes Dasaratha for his evil act of sending Rama to exile. She explains various difficulties being faced by Rama, Lakshmana and Seetha in their forest-life. She says that even if Rama returns to Ayodhya in the fifteenth year, he may not accept the kingdom since enjoyed by Bharata.

“Despite the fame in the three worlds of your great glory that Dasaratha is compassionate, bountiful and kind in his words, how your two sons along with Seetha who grew comfortably can bear suffering in the forest when faced with hardships, O the best among the foremost of men!”

4. saa maithilii= that Seetha; taruNii= who is a young lady; shyaamaa= in the prime of Her youth; sukumaarii= and very delicate; katham= how prasahiSyate= (She) can tolerate; nuunam= really; uSNam ca= heat; shiitam ca= and cold?

“That Seetha, who is a young lady in the prime of her youth and very delicate, can really tolerate heat and cold?”

14. tR^ipteSu= the contented; braahmaNeSvapi= even if they are Brahmanas; praaJNaaH= wise; dvijarSabhaaH= and the best of Brahmanas; naabhyupaitumalam= cannot agree; bhoktum= to eat; pashcaat= afterwards; shR^iN^gacchedamiva= as splitting of thorns; R^iSabhaaH= of a bull.

“The best of Brahmins in their wisdom, will not accept what remains of the food of which other Brahmins have partaken, regarding it as a bull shorn of its horns.”

16. vyaaghraH= a tiger; necchati= does not wish; khaaditum= to eat; bhakSyam= a food; ashitam= eaten; vareNa= by another animal; evam eva= in the same manner; naravyaaghraH= a tiger among men; na manyate= does not accept; paraliiDham= that which has been enjoyed by another.

“A tiger does not wish to share a part of food eaten by another animal. In the same manner, Rama the tiger among men may not accept that which has been enjoyed by another.”

18. tathaa= thus; raamaH= Rama; naalam= cannot; abhimantum= accept; idam raajyam= this kingdom; attam= taken away by others; suraamiva= as an ambrosia; hR^itasaaram= whose essence has been taken away; adhvaramiva= and as in a sacrifice; naSTa somam= when the stalks of Soma plant (from which a beverage called Soma is prepared) are lost.

“Thus, Rama cannot accept the kingdom taken away by other, as those not accepting an ambrosia whose essence has been taken away or as in a sacrifice, stalks of Soma plant (from which a beverage called Soma is prepared) are lost.”

19. raaghavaH= Rama; na marSayiSyati= will not go through; evam vidham= such a type; astakaaram= of dishonour; avamarshanam iva= as touching; vaaladhe= of the tail; balavaan= by a strong; shaarduulaH= tiger.

“Rama will not go through such a type of dishonour, as a strong tiger does not endure even touching of its tail.”

21. asau= this Rama; mahaaviiryaH= with great prowess; mahaabhujaH= and with mighty arms; nanu nirdahet= can surely burn up; bhuutaani= all beigns; saagaraanapi= and even the ocean; kaancanaiH baaNaiH= like at the time of destruction of the world.

“Rama with great prowess and with his mighty arms can surely burn up all beings and even the ocean itself by his golden arrows; like at the time of destruction of the world.”

22. saH naraSabhaH= that excellent man; taadR^iS\shaH= of such; simhabalaH= strength of a lion; vR^iSabhaakSaH= and with eyes like those of a bull; hataH= was mined; pitraa iva= indeed by father; svayam= of his own; aatmajoyathaa= like (killing) its child; jalajena= by a fish.

“That excellent man with such a lion’s strength and with eyes like those of a bull was ruined indeed by his own father, like killing its child-fish by an adult fish.”

23. putre= a son; dharma nirate= who is devoted to righteousness; nirvaasite= being sent to exile; tvayaa= by you; dharmaH yadi= is it a right thing; shaasradR^iSTah= as seen by scriptures; te= for you; sanaatanaH= or an eternal thing; dvijaaticaritaH= practised by the Twice born?

“A son, who is devoted to righteousness, has been sent to exile by you. Is it a right thing for you, as seen by scriptures or is it an eternal conduct as practiced by the Twice born?”

24. raajan= O, king; patiH= husband; ekaa= is a chief; gatiH= refuge; naaryaaH= for a womn; dvitiiyaa gatiH= her second refuge; aatmajaH= is a son; tR^iiyaa= the third refuge; j~naatayH= is a near relative; na vidyate= there is no; chaturdhii= fourth one; iha= here.

“O, king! A husband is a chief refuge for a woman. Her second refuge is a son. The third refuge is her near-relative. There is no fourth one here.”

25. tatra= in those three refuges; tvam= you; naiva asi= do not indeed exist; raamastu= Rama on his part; aashritaH= took refuge; vanam= in a forest; na icchaami= I do not wish; gantum= to go; vanam= to the forest; nihataa= I have been mined; sarvathaa= in all ways; tvayaa= b you.

“Among those three refuges, you do not indeed exist. Rama on his part took refuge in a forest and I do not wish to go there. Thus, I have been ruined in all ways, by you.”

“This kingdom along with neighboring states has been ruined by you. You yourself along with ministers have been ruined. I along with my son are ruined. Citizens too are ruined. Your son Bharata and your wife Kaikeyi only are delighted.”

Hearing the aforesaid voice of Kausalya, consisting of her cruel words, the king also being distressed, became disillusioned. Thereafter, the king then looking back on his own evil act, was entangled in grief

ity˜rÿe þrŸmadr˜m˜yaõe ˜dik˜vye ayodhy˜k˜õýe ekaÿaÿ÷itama× sarga×

Thus completes 61st Chapter of Ayodhya Kanda of the glorious Ramayana of Valmiki, the work of a sage and the oldest epic.